Liverpool Parks and Grounds

[AK1]

Great pics!!!

[robbo176]

great photos Mark

[ChrisGeorge]

Good work, Mark! Thanks!

Chris

[Kev]

WORK will begin on the £6.6m restoration of Sefton Park within the next two months.

The waterside bandstand will be restored and supplied with power so it can host music events once again.

The Heritage Lottery-funded project includes completely rebuilding the Shaftesbury fountain into a working water feature and extending the Aviary café to form a central “hub” to the historic park.

But while the stonework of the Gothic revival fountain at the park’s Aigburth Road entrance is also set for refurbishment, health and safety issues mean it will not be used as a water feature.

The project is being driven by specialist architects Lloyd Evans Pritchard, who were behind much of the restoration of Birkenhead Park and are also due to carry out work at Stanley Park.

Adrian Pearson, a director at the Manchester-based firm, said: “We work in tandem with a landscaping practice. We’re taking forward the restoration of the monuments and buildings, including the Shaftesbury fountain, which is in an awful state.

“The fountain will be completely dismantled and taken off site for restoration. It will go back as a working fountain.”

The original statue of Eros, which stood on top of the fountain, will remain at its current home in Liverpool’s Conservation Centre and a replica will be carved to go on the restored monument.

The wrought ironwork and stone base of the bandstand will be repaired, with power and light supplies to create a modern performance site.

The Samuel Smith obelisk and William Rathbone memorial are also set for repair work.

Mr Pearson said: “Our aim is to have most of the restoration to the park and monuments complete by August 2008.”

catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[phredd]

While they are at the restoration can the restore some public toilets in the park.
They will not cost £6.6 million but they will make people feel comfortable in the lower parts of the body.

Phredd

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

In googling Lindy's hanging iron staircase in Llandudno, the photograph of which she posted for comment yesterday, I came across a site on Scottish ironwork that shows this photograph of the dilapidated aviary in Stanley Park. Also found this view of the derelict aviary in Sefton Park.

On a happier note (if, perhaps, deceptively so!!!), on the Scottish ironwork site I liked the view of this Hampden Park, Eastbourne, Sussex, urinal that looks, with the green moss (?) and patina of graffiti (? again), like a specimen of very expensive and rare oriental art. But I have a feeling the photograph flatters to deceive and that the loo would not seem so exotically beautiful in person!!!

Chris

[PhilipG]

You've mentioned Concert Square.
That's been newly created, along with a few other squares.
Be realistic. Where in any city centre would there be space to create parks?
Frankly, I don't know what's bugging you about Liverpool.
Name other cities that have parks in their main shopping areas?
(Battery Park is not in a shopping area, and neither is Central Park).

Besides, as Ged says, people do not go to town for the parks.

[RoddersUK]

Thats not strictly true Phil.
Lack of decent public spaces is one of the things that i'll not miss about Liverpool but it's certainly not a reason for me to leave.
Maybe the fact that i have been living and working in the city centre for the last few years in the middle of a constant building site has tainted my impressions of it a little.

[Kev]

THIRTEEN of Liverpool’s parks and gardens have been awarded the country’s highest environmental stamp of approval for their high standards and for being “welcoming places”.

They will be hoisting the nat- ional Green Flag after being awarded the accolade by the Civic Trust.

For the first time, Croxteth Park and Anfield Crematorium Memorial Garden have been given top rating – and the city council says there will be even more award winners next year.

The Green Flag is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and is awarded on an annual basis.

Liverpool City Council’s executive member for the environment, Cllr Berni Turner, said: “We entered 13 parks and have had a 100% success rate which is fantastic.

“It’s always important that our parks and gardens are of the highest possible standards, especially in our birthday year and for our European Capital of Culture year in 2008.

“The Green Flag highlights the best of the best when it comes to green spaces and I’m not surprised Liverpool has one of the highest number of flags in the UK.

“This accolade is a real credit to the city council’s gardening service, our partners, friends groups and the community.”

The Green Flag awarded to Croxteth Country Park was all the sweeter for staff who had tried for the award before without success.

Area councillor Phil Moffatt said: “We are thrilled to bits and this is really the jewel in the crown of Croxteth to be bestowed with this great accolade.”

The winners are Calderstones Park, Devonfield Garden, Everton Park Nature Garden, Falkner Square, Greenbank Park, Our Lady and St Nicholas Church Gar- den, Springwood Crematorium Memorial Gardens, Reynolds Park, St John’s Gardens, Woolton Woods and Camp Hill, Belle Vale Park, Anfield Crematorium Mem- orial Garden, and Croxteth Park.

Parks and gardens are judged on criteria including conservation and heritage, community involvement, health, safety, security and being welcoming.

The awards have been run by the Liverpool-based Civic Trust for 11 years.

Paul Todd, the Green Flag Award scheme’s programme manager, said: “We are once again delighted with the huge growth in winners, highlighting the importance of quality green spaces in our communities.”

The flags will be awarded in a ceremony in Leeds next week.

HALTON has six parks and woodland areas judged to be among the best in the country.

Victoria Park yesterday joined Hough Green Park, Pickering's Pasture Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Rock Park, Runcorn Hill Park LNR and Wigg Island Community Park, which will all fly Green Flags this year.

vickyanderson

[Kev]

LIVERPOOL has more than 1m trees in its 97 parks and open spaces spanning 2,500 acres. Read

[ChrisGeorge]

I don't know who Steph is but her name is written all over St John's gardens.

I happened to walk through the other day and was sadenned to see the gardens in such a state. Vandals have defaced statues and walls and even the back of the hall itself. The flowerbeds are neglected and the area looks poor. I would have thought with the refurbishment of the hall that the gardens would have been restored. Steph and her likes should be punished for vandalism.

Hi Suburban

Your disturbing post inspired the following poem from me which is now on the 800 Poems site celebrating Liverpool's 800 years of history. I hope Steph and her ilk enjoy the notoriety and my little rant might inspire some action from the council and other responsible parties.

All the best

Chris


Graffiti in St. John's Gardens

You've sprayed your name all over the place
Aye, your name just sits there, in our face

Your contribution to the Year of Culture
shows you to be just one more vulture

Ah, eight hundred years of this?
Your fellow Scousers might wish -- not

Child, you're just wasting our time:
the taxpayer money used to clean up your muck
could be used to fight bigger crime

Christopher T. George

[Kev]

MORE than £870,000 is to be spent improving parks across Liverpool. Read

[Paul D]

[phredd]

After trying to have toilets open in parks in Runcorn with no success I have given up all hope.
Green Flag do NOT put toilets as one of the criteria for the Green Flag award. Told that by Halton BC and it is also not a rquirement of any council to supply toilets in parks = also told that by Halton BC.

Green Flag !!!! I wonder if it's the same company that do vehicle recovery
Phredd

[Kev]

THE Isla Gladstone conservatory will become north Liverpool’s equivalent of the Sefton Park palm house if restorations plans are approved. Read